How were you then convinced to take up the role?

Raju brainwashed me into saying yes to the offer because he felt that I was the real life Rancho in any way and I could bring out the truth in the way the character had been conceived.

Can you elucidate?

Raju told me that I could very successfully pull off as the character of the Assistant Police Commissioner for director John Mathew Matthan in ‘Sarfarosh’, though people were very skeptical about it. Raju also told me that I could pull off as a gaon ka chora in ‘Lagaan’ and shock every one. Raju goaded me to take up the challenge and rise up to the occasion in ‘3 Idiots’ too, like I had done the role oftapori in ‘Rangeela’ after having emerged as a romantic hero with ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’. I had to work a lot physically, because the first and foremost condition laid down by Raju was that I should concentrate a lot on my looks to suit the role.

Is it true that just two days before the shooting started, you asked Rajuto replace you with some other actor?

Yes. Just two days before the shooting was slated to begin, I even rang up Rajuand told him that if only he wanted, he could change his decision and cast a younger actor in the role that he had marked for me, but he did not listen to meand just stuck to his gun.

How was the experience of acting in ‘3 Idiots’?

I would say that I have surprised myself a lot by challenging against the norms as far as I am concerned as an actor in ‘3 Idiots’, thanks to Raju Hirani. In real life, I do not do mimicry so well but Raju asked me to ape Boman Irani for the song ‘Zoobi Doobi’ by studying Boman’s body language. To what extent I have succeeded in mimicking him, you have to tell me after you watch ‘3 Idiots’.

How confident are you of your capability in ‘3 Idiots’?

I did the role of a sensitive professor in ‘Taare Zameen Par’. Then I played a killer in ‘Ghajini’ and now I am playing the role of a college student in ‘3 Idiots’. I hope that I have been able to pull it off too and end up having an encore.

How tough was it for you to market ‘3 Idiots’?

I am of the opinion that every film has its own requirement of marketing. The way I set out to market ‘Taare Zameen Par’ was entirely different from the way I marketed ‘Ghajini’. ‘3 Idiots’ required a different kind of strategy as far as its marketing was concerned.

How would you rate Kareena Kapoor as your co-actor?

Kareena is a wonderful actress. I would unhesitatingly even go to the extent of saying that she is not only very good to look at, but also warm and friendly and spontaneous and fun to work with. Though I had earlier worked with Karisma Kapoor in ‘Raja Hindustani’, I think after working with her in ‘3 Idiots’ I am a li’l pallier with Kareena. In fact, though I was busy with the promotional activities of my own film ‘3 Idiots’, I keenly looked forward to watch ‘Kurbaan’ because I wanted her and Saif to do well, both personally as well as professionally.

How did you achieve the feat of shedding your eight-pack abs for your role in ‘3 Idiots’ after having built your body for ‘Ghajini’?

When I do a film, I go by its requirement. In fact, I wondered how I could succeed in making a body with eight-pack abs like in ‘Ghajini’, in a span of just one year but I transformed myself, thanks to my will power. We have absolutely no idea of human brain. I feel that if you focus your energy at one point, you can succeed in doing whatever you want to do.

Your brother Hyder Ali Khan’s film ‘Trump Card’ is clashing with your film ‘3 Idiots’ on Christmas Day. What do you have to say?

Any one can claim that he is my brother, but the fact is that Faisal Khan is my onlybrother. I do not have any other brother.

In the upcoming flick ‘Paa’, superstar Amitabh Bachchan plays a child affected with Progeria, a rare genetic disorder where a child ages three times faster than normal. The movie has Abhishek Bachchan and Vidya Balan playing Big B’s parents.

It’s all about SHALIMAR meeting Mechana’s Gold under the deep blue of Bahamas.

Antony D’Souza seems to have crafted the tale merely with an idea of striking spectacularly with technical panoramas. But on the narrative aspects, the film looks flimsy…

Treasure hunts – it isn’t something off-the-wall subject over the screens. We’d watched so many films of this genre more than hundred times. BLUE doesn’t compounds with substantiality in the first hour while the latter part looks caricatured with foreseeable narration.

Set in the backdrops of sun kissing beaches of Bahamas, the film boasts about three contrary characters: Aarav (Akshay Kumar) an arrogant business, Sagar (Sanjay Dutt) a simple-minded sea diver and his brother Sam (Zayed Khan), who has played the game of dice for ‘life-n-death’ with mafia gang in Bangkok (lead by Rahul Dev). Situations drop them together for a buried treasure across the deep blue region. Sagar much affected with his father’s death in the sea doesn’t love the sea diving task. But when his lovable brother’s life is put in stake, he is left without options.

Firstly, it’s worth mentioning about the technical aspects. Pete Zucchini’s cinematography under the water is just awesome. Although, major portions have been processed with rich-grading, the innovative angles deserve special mention.

Precisely, musical score by Rahman leaves you irresistible with invigorations… With hottie Kylie Minogue’s sensuous touch; ‘Chiggy Wiggy’ turns to be a grand fiesta across the screens. ‘Fiqrana’ at final credits has been shot stylishly with pleasant visuals. But Rahman fails to engross with background score at various points. Resul Pookutty spells a marvelous take with underwater effects with minute details.

Getting on with performance, Akshay Kumar delivers his usual traits of spellbinding attempt over stunts. He’s perfect with his dialogue deliveries and indeed his Bhangra-fangled dance in ‘Chiggy Wiggy’. Lara Dutta steals the show with her intoxicates the young lads with her alluring looks and she was never spotted so gorgeous before. But Antony seems to have landed on wrong side by opting Sanjay Dutt for the role of sea diver. Sanjay Dutt is often spotted with unenergetic approach and his physique doesn’t fit the space. Zayed Khan is zippy over his parts, but most of the times is involved merely in bike chases. Rahul Dev is clinched with same-patterned villainous character and again filmmaker has failed to shape his characterization so uniquely.

But couple of stunts has been mind-boggling and stunt choreographers have mastered brilliant action-packed sequences, especially in the latter part.

Putting things in simple, ‘BLUE’ is not worthy enough to be called as ‘Adrenaline Pumping Thriller’, but a film sans solidness except few excellence in technical parts. For sure, the film would make some business with vigorous promotions and it’s a film to watch without expectations. But, it’s not gonna exceed your expectations on whole.

Aladin – it’s something far behind what a real fantasy should be. This modernized version of ‘Aladdin and Magic Lamp’ is ridiculous with a flimsy narration. Looks like producers were temporarily deaf when Sujoy narrated the script. Alas! The filmmaker’s attempt of inheriting the superlative special effects from ‘Harry Potter’ alone doesn’t keep us intact throughout the show.

With the film loaded with such biggies like Amitabh Bachchan and Sanjay Dutt, expectations were more. But regrettably, things fall short of our expectations.

And again, if you presume this flick would be an apt entertainer for children, they’re sure to become hot-tempered for recommending this kind of ‘fantasy-bounded flick’, they had watched hundred times over Hollywood movies.

Aladin Chatterjee (Riteish Deshmukh) lives in the city of Khwaish, an orphan who has been bullied since childhood by Kasim and his gang. But his life changes when Jasmine (Jacqueline Fernandez) gives him a magic lamp- because it lets loose the genie Genius (Amitabh Bachchan). Desperate to grant him 3 wishes and seek the end of his contract with the Magic Lamp, the rock-star Genius makes Aladin’s life difficult until the real threat looms on the horizon: the ex-genie Ringmaster (Sanjay Dutt). Why does Ringmaster want to kill Aladin? What is the dark secret about Aladin’s past that Genius is carrying? And what is Aladin’s destiny?

The film starts off with mediocre and later goes blemished with sluggish screenplay. Of course, there are certain things to praise about – grandiloquent sets and some magnetizing special effects… The filmmaker should’ve spent more time in penning a great script rather than merely focusing on such technical vistas.

Amitabh Bachchan takes off with his brilliant performance. It’s nice to witness the Big B over rib-tickling comedy tracks, but when he exceeds his limits, that turns out to be ridiculous… Sanju Bhaiyya has to work a lot over choosing the right script. His previous films: ‘Blue’, ‘All The Best’ and now ‘Aladin’ have been posing him with unsubstantial roles. Ritesh Deshmukh has delivered his best show putting forth right emotions. Cherubic Jacqueline lives up to expectations and she’s sure to sway with a successful endeavor ahead.

Musical score by Vishal-Shekar doesn’t stimulate our invigorations. Except the soft romantic solo of ‘You are the one’, nothing seems to be engrossing. Sirsha Ray’s cinematography is stunning and Sabu Cyril picks your focus with his marvelous art works.

Finally, ‘Aladin’ doesn’t offer anything special in terms of story and narration. Recently, the producers had announced about making a sequel to this flick. If in reality, the modern day ‘Genius’ appears before us, we would kindly request him to stop producers from making a big mistake again.

Let’s not put this at center as Vipul Shah has attempted for an unforeseen endeavor. To be precise, his previous films have been a sort of not-so-happening ones despites fetching big collections at box office. But, ‘London Dreams’ proves of Vipul’s adeptness over crafting an splendiferous script.

Arjun (Ajay Devgn) & Mannu (Salman Khan) were childhood friends. But they had little in common except their family’s vague connection with music. While Arjun’s life was consumed by a passionate drive to get on stage and realize his grandfather’s unfulfilled dream, Mannu had little interest in his music tutor father’s instruments and was content with remaining a child at heart with no higher ambition than enjoying the good things in life. But little did they expect music to strengthen their friendship and then test it with catastrophic results…

Arjun diligently pursued his dream, at the risk of running away from an uncle who was his only family in an unfamiliar land and roaming the streets of London before taking shelter in a music shop and priming himself until he’s ready to make his foray into the world of music and showmanship.

As Arjun forges a band with Zoheb (Rannvijay Singh) and Wasim (Aditya Roy Kapoor), two brothers who’d duped their relatives in Pakistan to travel to London in pursuit of their musical aspirations, and Priya (Asin), a music enthusiast from a conservative South Indian family, far away in Punjab, music becomes a survival tool for Mannu, who takes to playing in wedding bands in his village.

But when he gets Mannu to London and makes him a part of the band, Arjun soon realizes he’s created the biggest threat and obstacle to his own ambitions.

First things first, ‘London Dreams’ is brimmed with great beauty and splendor. Well, the credit goes to Vipul Shah for delineating the onscreen individuals sans valorousness. Of course, Sallu takes sudden cuts on contrastive roles in his three previous flicks released within couple of months: ‘Wanted’, ‘Main Aur Mrs. Khanna’ and ‘London Dreams’. His charismatic appeal of being Mannu and enchanting the people around him is a top-notching act. On the pars, Ajay Devgn strikes-up with an intensely overpowering show of his ‘grey-shaded’ lad. Be the sequences where he spells out an emotional bonding with Sallu or the malevolent behavior of hatching evil designs on the same person. Asin attempts on elevating her standards from ‘Ghajini’, but remains static in certain portions and indeed stuns us over her performance in few heart-wrenching sequences. Om Puri doesn’t get centered with a prominent role while Aditya Roy Kapoor requires special mention. Though Manoj Pahwa sparkles us out with mirthful takes, he gets eclipsed with minimal role. Vipul Shah should’ve depicted Rannvijay with yet more prominence.

Musical score by Shankar-Ehasan-Loy is quite commendable with few tracks, but the trio doesn’t seems to have let its ‘Josh’ over other numbers. They fail to invigorate our senses. Cinematography by Sejal Shah is marvelous. Capturing the best backdrops of Punjab and western lands, he emblazons the screens with enriched tones.

Though the entire first hour revolves around establishing the roles of star-casts, Vipul Shah plants his plot-points with an excellent touch in intermission. Though the film falls off slightly with low tempo, things are back in action in penultimate scenes and Vipul could’ve yet more perfectly delivered a closing shot.

On the whole, ‘London Dreams’ makes it appealing on all panoramas with exquisite elegance over this tale of friendship, happiness, pains, amnesties – etc, etc…

Of course, there are certain elements that turn to be already experienced… Nonetheless, asunder in many terms, ‘Jail’ takes us through an unflinching gaze into the melancholic niches of physical and emotional cruelty. In simple terms Madhur Bandharkar stuns us with a riveting testimony of Jailhouse’s enigmatic day-to-day life.

Parag Dixit (Neil Nithin Mukesh) is living a dream life with a great job and his loving girlfriend Maansi (Mugdha Godse)! However things take an ugly turn when after a series of unfortunate events he suddenly wakes up in Jail; handcuffed and randomly beaten up by the cops.

Parag is perplexed and in a place far from his utopian life. He tries hard to face away from the ugly truth and wish it’s all a bad dream but soon succumbs to the prison anarchy. The only salvation he finds is in Nawab, a convict and a warder who believes that Parag is innocent.

Soon, Parag discovers the inner mechanism and the science responsible for the wretched status inside the prison and hordes of broken hearts and shattered souls which grappled to find comfort amidst the four prison walls.

He is left with a choice, to either live a life that controlled and exploited or fight against the system!

Neil Nithin Mukesh throws a performance of ne plus ultra and let himself jumped into the main league of Khans and Kumars now. Naturally, the young actor has been laying his hands over exceptional flicks from his very beginning of career. Be it ‘Johnny Gaddar’ or his previous flick ‘New York’, the young lad is exalting with his overpowering performance. Be the situations when he thirsts for freedom or the emotional outburst in hard times is fantabulous… Mugdha spells a splendid show as she projects at a wider space away from a red-hot model in ‘Fashion’. Finally, we have Manoj Bhajpayee outperforming his very own showcase in Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘Sathya’. Delineated as Nawab, he strikes with a Herculean task while Arya Babbar is a best actor to watch out in town.

Madhur Bhandarkar brings you the clear-cut picture about how goons operate their sources outside and how things get worsened for an innocent guy, who never had an idea about what a prison life could be.

Technically, the film lacks the rich musical fiesta that was very much prevalent in Madhur’s ‘Fashion’. No wonder! Things have to suit the drama – that’s a strict order that a filmmaker must follow. Indeed, Madhur has given up his trait by inserting an item song to the drama. Maybe, it’s an order by producers and perhaps, the song is quite impressive.

Marking our verdicts – ‘Jail’ has got more interesting elements that’ll keep arrested your senses. Indeed, it’s a must watch movie for those fed up with commercial films that tends to be beating the same bush.